Meta

How Dr. Scott Rocklage Became A Venture Capitalist In The Healthcare Industry

As a managing partner of 5AM Ventures, Dr. Scott Rocklage brings a wealth of experience to this venture capital firm. 5AM Ventures is focused on investing in new companies that are in their early stages in the healthcare industry. Dr. Rocklage worked in the healthcare industry for many years himself as both a researcher and developer as well as being an executive for a number of biotechnology companies.

Dr. Scott Rocklage first joined 5AM Ventures in 2003. At first he was a venture partner but he was elevated to a managing partner position within a year later. He invests in companies that will deliver great returns for his company’s investors. He, along with the rest of the team at 5AM Ventures, also supports companies that are trying to solve important healthcare needs that are not presently being met.

Dr. Rocklage attended the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating with his degree in chemistry he moved to Boston in order to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT he earned his Ph.D. in chemistry while conducting his research under the direction of Richard Schrock. As Dr. Rocklage likes to note, in 2005 Richard Schrock was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

After earning his Ph.D., Dr. Scott Rocklage entered into research and development. He worked at two firms, Salutar and Catalytica, before moving into executive level positions. Over the course of his career in the biotechnology industry he was a top executive at a number of companies. This included Cubist Pharmaceuticals and Nycomed Salutar. His work led to three U.S. New Drug Applications receiving the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. These approvals were for Teslascan, Omniscan, and Cubicin.

Dr. Scott Rocklage has related the story of why his company is called 5AM Ventures. He says that 5 AM is a very early time in the day. He also says that his investment firm invests in companies in their early stages. The pun for the name of his company basically wrote itself. He has also said that he enjoys his work as every day brings something new to it. Learn more: https://www.crunchbase.com/person/scott-m-rocklage